All is well!

Believe it or not, we finally got up the nerve to go ahead and schedule Pookey Bear's tenotomy. And we are happy to report that the surgery went off without a hitch, with the patient now happily recovering at the 'horspital.'

The doctors at La Mesa Equine performed the procedure on his stubborn right front, which had experienced initial improvement after his acute founder episode, but then sort of 'stalled out' (no pun intended).

His right front had always been problematic for him. Even as a healthy youngster, he had battled club foot, and subsequent abscesses. During his show career, he had required a vigorous stretching regimen to keep that leg as supple and elongated as the left.

So it was no great surprise that his right front failed to respond as well as his left, as the super-taut deep digital flexor tendon kept pulling down and back on the third phalanx, tearing it away from the laminae much quicker than the laminae could heal. The expectation now is that with continued rest and supportive care, the third phalanx (P3) can be maintained in a more normal alignment with the hoof wall and with the ground, allowing the laminae to build back functional strength.

Over time, the tendon itself will heal as well. In some horses, it apparently regains enough function (and tension) that it needs to be cut a second time. We are of course hoping that Pookey will be a one-shot wonder, and will only require the single surgery!

The surgery itself, much to our delight, went beautifully. And while considerable time was devoted to carefully positioned pre-surgical x-rays, extremely high-tech shoeing by Pookey's friend Joe, and incredibly thorough pre-surgical prep, the procedure itself took just a few minutes, the subsequent suturing not too much longer. Pookey stood through the entire event with just moderate sedation, and--thanks to the analgesic effect of his meds!--no signs whatsoever of discomfort.

Immediately following his surgery he walked easily back to his stall, sporting his newest corrective aluminum footwear on the right, and a 'normal' shoe on the left. He'll be hanging out there for awhile with his friends at La Mesa, as they keep his leg snugly wrapped and scrupulously clean, hoping to minimize scarring and to reduce any chance of infection.

Meanwhile, we are staring at his empty stall here at home, missing his frequent whinnies when we step outside the back door, his trumpeting demands for food and water, and his soft nickers when a client's child walks up to pet him.

Get well soon, Pookey Bear!